[FaDeKerrigan]

I've noticed that Zergs on the SEA ladder have been adopting this play style more frequently. Just wanted to share some pointers i've collated from various sources. Mad props to 'Oboeman' on Teamliquid.

To distill this MU,

Think of the infestor as the zerg siege tank, and give it the same respect when planning an attack.

Ling infestor provides a completely different dynamic than muta ling.

Most importantly, it's a cost efficient unit composition for zerg. Most small battles end up with zerg trading away all of his zerglings and infestor energy, but keeping the infestors alive. Because they aren't relying heavily on banelings, they can fight and tech at the same time.

Against muta/ling/baneling, terran benefits from constant trading because you are trading mostly minerals for a lot of gas, and as time goes on, terran hits 3/3, zerg is still 2/1, and his units just disappear. Ling infestor can keep up with upgrades and get a very fast hive, so your army trades aren't pulling you slowly ahead, like they would against banelings.

The fast 3 tank push which works so well against a fast spire is almost always a disaster against ling infestor, because as you've seen, they are perfectly happy having 60 lings waiting when you show up. Seeing a late lair is a sign that you should probably not try a small push, but drops are going to be very nice against him for the next few minutes.

Because zerg can play somewhat cost-efficiently with ling infestor, it's less important for zerg to be a base ahead. Being on even bases isn't exactly comfortable, but it's survivable. Being ahead by a base feels like a huge lead for an infestor zerg.

Playing against ling infestor is not really about constant army trading, it's about constantly expanding and harassing. Instead of churning your minerals out into mass marines who will die killing zerglings, your minerals go into extra CCs and production facilities. You don't need a lot of turrets in your main - good, you can build another CC. You pressure the zerg with drops, but you have to drop multiple places simultaneously or he'll just have lings run in and clean it up.

It's hard for zerg to be aggressive as long as you keep your army well positioned and simcity with buildings, so you can defend all of these new expansions you are taking. Bunkers, barracks, depots etc to prevent ling runbys go a long way against ling/infestor.
Every time you expand, zerg is going to try to expand - so make the Zerg cancel that hatchery once or twice with a drop. Make him build 10 spine crawlers at each base, because that makes it harder for his expansions to keep up with yours. Without mutas, he can't protect his overlords, so fly a viking around to kill them all, keeping him in the dark against drops.

Ultralisks do really poorly against bio, as long as the bio is positioned well and can kite. Fill the map with buildings, spread units out, leave a few guys to die to the ultralisks. EMP the infestors and then kite the ultralisks while they try to weave through your maze of barracks and bunkers.

If you're ever in any doubt about his expansions or his army positioning or his tech - build a pair of barracks and float them around the map. The Zerg has minimal anti-air, and if he wants to burn infested terrans killing a barracks, that's his energy he is using.

Here's an informative video link on how to deal with this playstyle.

MKP vs Stephano in HSC 4 game on Antiga Shipyard

You Tube

You Tube

GL to all my companions on the SEA ladder. For the Dominion!